during the first five and half month period of this year according to the Ministry Of Health.

Health Minister Dr.Rajitha Senaratne has been appointed a five member committee comprising with five doctors including Child Specialist Dr.Lakkumar Fernando to prepare a daily Dengue situation Report in the country and submit it to the Ministry .

Due to the recent floods spreading of Dengue has been rapidly increased and it will expect to increase further in future the Health Ministry has stated.

The evacuation of families taken place after the Geological Mine Survey Bureau had inspected the Mountain and declared it as a landslide threat area.

Meanwhile the Disaster Management Center has extended the landslide warnings issued to Ratnapura,Kegalle,Galle,Matara,Hambanthota ,Nuwara Eliya and Kalutara Districts due to the heavy showers prevailing there.

wholesale price of Sugar by Rs.3 from Rs.99 to Rs.96 with effect from today (17) due to the dropped sugar prices in the world market according to the Association .

The Association has stressed that although the government has increased the special commodity tax imposed on imported sugar last week,Sugar Importers Association has managed to avoid increasing of price of sugar.

However All ceylon Canteen Owners Association has increased the prices of Milk and Plain Tea due to the tax increase.

Private Hospitals and Private Laboratories in the country to reduce the prices of full blood count (FBC-normal blood test)and Dengue Test with effect from this Monday (19)for the benefit of Dengue patients as the number of tests to be performed behalf of Dengue patients in hospitals are being increased.

Accordingly the Full Blood Count test should be performed for Rs.250 and the Dengue Test which the Private Hospitals and Laboratories charged Rs.3000 per a test should be performed for a maximum of Rs.1000 under the Private Hospital Regulatory Act until further notice the Ministry has stated.

The Ptivate Hospitals and Laboratories should release the blood test reports to the Dengue pstients within half an hour the Ministry has instructed.

who are prescribing diferent brands of pain killer drugs for fever patients including Dengue patients based on the complaints received from patients in IDH Fever Hospital acccording to the Health Minister

Dr.Rajitha Senaratne.

Fever patients including Dengu patients should be given paracetamol only and patients should refrain from taking other psin killers for fever Health Minister has stressed.

President Maithripala Sirisena and Health Minister Dr.Rajitha Senaratne have visited the IDH Fever Hospital today to look after the welfare of the Dengue patients there and during the visit patients have complained to the Minister regarding doctors prescribing different brands of pain killers for fever patients Minister Senaratne has stated.

Addressing a Media briefing held in Government Infotmation Department today (17)national co-ordinator of the National Dengue Control Programme Dr.Hasitha Thissera has stated that public should be aware that taking different remadies for the Dengue without seeking proper medical treatment can cost the patient 's life and majority of the young Dengue patients have died due to taking of different brands of pain killers .The delaying getting treatment for Dengue is another reason for Dengue deaths.

personal to assist the proper removal of collected garbage in the roads of the country to avoid the spreading of current dengue epidemic further according to the Minister Of Health Dr.Rajitha Senaratne.

Earlier Minister has requested the President Maithripala Sirisena to take a decision to utilize tri forces personal to proper removal of garbage collected in the roads.

Since the collapsing of a part of the Meethotamulla Garbage Mount in last April ,the urban councils are not removing garbage collected in Municipal council areas properly, as there is no place to dump the collected garbage.

However to control the spreading of Dengue in the country the proper removal of garbage is must to do action at present Health Minister Dr.senaratne has sressed during a press briefing held at Government Information Department in Narahenpita today (17).